Chivu: “Different formation? Here’s when we can change it”

On the eve of the match between Inter and Udinese, valid for the second round of Serie A, the Nerazzurri coach Cristian Chivu speaks at a press conference to present the match against the Friulians. Below are all his answers and statements to the questions from the journalists present.

MATCH – “It will be fundamental to maintain the attitude and mentality from the start, then there are still some things to improve.”

CALHANOGLU – “He wants to get involved and has always shown us important things, he has come back with ambition and with the desire to put last season behind him. Like everyone, he knows that what matters is only this season, we are all happy that he is available again after the suspension.”

ESPOSITO – “I have known him since he was 13 years old. I know what ambitions he has and what he is made of. He still has a way to go and everything to prove, he is humble and this allows him to grow in the right way. When expectations rise, he performs at his best, he showed it in Serie B and even as a kid with us in Inter’s youth teams. Now he is enjoying his dream of being in the first team and also being in the senior National team after having played in the youth selections at a younger age.”

TWO STRIKERS – “There are many different possibilities depending on who we face and which opponents we have. We’ll see over time whether to play with two or more strikers.”

TURNOVER – “Playing every 3 days and keeping the group motivated, you have to satisfy everyone without losing meritocracy. Making changes just for the sake of it is not worth it. You have to show the level and meritocracy is the first thing I look at, many matches are not enough. You have to prepare as best as possible for the coach’s choices for the good of the group. Everyone must earn their place. But now I’m only thinking about Udinese because then there’s also the break. Too many thoughts and plans are damaging mentally and in terms of expectations.”

SUCIC – “Meritocracy is earned in training, between one match and another there are 4-5 days of training. I don’t look at the first eleven but at 22 outfield players plus the goalkeeper who must try to put me in difficulty by how they train and how they behave both on and off the field.”

AGREEMENTS WITH THE TEAM – “There are things that can be said and others that cannot. These are topics that are good for the group, like the unity and harmony that are needed. I am always the one responsible for everything, for better or for worse (laughs, ed.).”

FRATTESI – “For me, by characteristics, he is a box-to-box midfielder but he can also play behind the striker. When we play with two men behind a striker, he can play there. Being a box-to-box midfielder, he can also help defensively, this is Davide’s role but by characteristics he can do well with commitment for our team.”

UDINESE – “We must not get the attitude and quality choices wrong. Udinese is a physically strong team, they have a coach I respect and they showed good things last year with Thauvin and Lucca. They have a midfield that is both combative and of quality. The characteristics of the players are always the same and it is difficult to face them.”